Ex-worker charged for St Catherine courthouse fire to serve over 10 years in prison

The court worker who was charged for setting fire to the St Catherine Parish Court administrative building following a break-in, is to serve 10 and half years in prison.

Romario 'Keith' Gopaul pleaded guilty to arson, office breaking and larceny.

In handing down sentencing in the St Catherine Circuit Court today, Justice Bertram Morrison remarked that as someone who worked at the court Gopaul should have known better.

"Your action crippled the system and deprived the public who seek justice. The sentence must discourage others of like mind," Morrison said. 

He was given 10 and half years for arson and four and a half years for office breaking and larceny.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

During sentencing, attorney-at-law Esther Reid told the court that her client acted out of fear. 

"This is a case where Mr Gopaul wasted no time and admitted that he committed the offences, therefore, he should benefit from the mitigating circumstances," Reid said.

She told the court that at the time of the incident her client was under duress and acted out of fear for his life and that of his family.

She told the court that he was put up to the act by two gang members to steal from the court's office.

The court was told that the gangsters showed him a gun and that they threatened to kill him and his family.

Facts of the case are that on July 24, 2022 fire was observed coming from the court offices in Emancipation Square, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The fire brigade was summoned, and upon arrival, it was discovered that the civil litigation office was set ablaze.

Police were later called to the scene and investigation revealed that the office was broken into and a safe with money forced open and the cash stolen.

The police said evidence suggested that the culprit set the place ablaze to cover the crime.

A thorough investigation was conducted and Gopaul was arrested and subsequently charged.

- Rasbert Turner

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